Crosslinkable binder dispersions

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to aqueous crosslinkable binder dispersions comprising hydroxy-functional copolymers based on ethylene glycol monoallyl ether, to a process for preparing them and to the use of the dispersions in coating materials.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to aqueous crosslinkable binder dispersionscomprising hydroxy- and acid-functional copolymers based on ethyleneglycol monoallyl ether, to a process for preparing them and to the useof the dispersions in coating materials.

It is known and is widespread practice in the coatings industry to usebinders based on hydroxy-functional copolymers in coating systems. Thesebinders can be used in organically dissolved form, as an aqueousdispersion, and in water-dilutable form in solventborne or aqueouscoating materials. It is possible to crosslink these copolymers in thecoating material via the OH groups, using for example melamine resins or(blocked) polyisocyanates, to form coating materials which can beprocessed as one-component or two-component systems.

Aqueous coating systems are increasingly being used in order to lowerthe emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). As compared with thesolvent-based coating materials, they contain a significantly reducedfraction of organic solvents (“cosolvents”). Often, however, thechangeover to aqueous coating systems can result in deterioration inother coating properties, for example the solvent resistance andchemical resistance. The reason for this is the higher hydrophilicity ofthe aqueous or water-dilutable binders as compared with theirsolvent-based counterpart.

One requirement which is particularly difficult to fulfil is that ofanti-graffiti resistance, i.e., the paint sprays, color sticks or paintsticks which are, for example, commercially customary leave behind spotsof color in the paint film which cannot be removed using cleaningproducts without damaging the paint film (for example, impairing thegloss) (the requirements are described, for example, in TL 918 300,section 4.11, Deutsche Bahn AG). The resistance of aqueous coatingsbased on hydroxy-functional copolymer dispersions can be improved bycombining them in the coating material with polyisocyanates containingfree NCO groups, as crosslinkers, to form aqueous two-componentpolyurethane (2K-PU) coating materials. Such coating materials aredescribed, for example, in EP-A 0 358 979 or in EP-A 0 947 557. Thecopolymers on which these coating dispersions are based are prepared byfree-radical polymerization of vinyl monomers in aqueous phase, referredto as primary dispersions, or in organic phase with subsequentdispersion in water, referred to as secondary dispersions. The monomermixtures generally include hydroxy (meth)acrylate monomers as buildingblocks for the OH functionality of the resin. This produces coatingfilms having a high level of coatings properties overall, and yet theanti-graffiti resistance of these coating films does not meet therequirements.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,073 discloses hydroxy-functional copolymer resins inwhich the OH groups have been introduced by incorporating allyl alcoholor propoxylated allyl alcohol. EP-A 0 900 243 and WO-A 00/00527 describewater-dilutable, hydroxy-functional resins for coating compositions, theOH groups having been introduced into the resins by incorporatingpropoxylated allyl alcohol.

WO-A 99/51658 discloses two-component polyurethane coating materialscomprising aqueous dispersions of polyisocyanates containing free NCOgroups and hydroxy-functional resins, based on allyl alcohol or on analkoxylated allyl alcohol.

An object of the present invention was to provide binder dispersionsbased on hydroxy-functional resins with which it is possible to prepareaqueous 2K-PU coating materials having good film optical properties andgood resistance properties, in particular very good anti-graffitiresistance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It has been possible to achieve the above-noted object by the coatingmaterials comprising aqueous binder dispersions based on hydroxy- andacid-functional copolymers wherein ethylene glycol monoallyl ether isused as a hydroxy monomer.

The invention accordingly provides aqueous crosslinkable binderdispersions comprising hydroxy- and acid-functional copolymers whereinethylene glycol monoallyl ether (a1)is used as a hydroxy functionalmonomer.

The copolymer is preferably produced from a monomer mixture comprising:

-   -   (a1) ethylene glycol monoallyl ether,    -   (a2) one or more acid-functional polymerizable monomers,    -   (a3) one or more polymerizable monomers containing cyclic groups        and    -   (a4) one or more further polymerizable monomers,    -   (a5) if desired, one or more OH- and/or NH-functional        polymerizable monomers,        provided that (a3), (a4) and (a5) are different from each other        and are different from (a1) and (a2).

The copolymer is preferably produced from a monomer mixture comprising:

-   -   (a1) from 5 to 60% by weight, more preferably from 10 to 50% by        weight, and most preferably from 20 to 45% by weight, of        ethylene glycol monoallyl ether,    -   (a2) from 0.5 to 10% by weight, mare preferably from 1 to 5% by        weight, and most preferably from 1.5 to 4% by weight, of one or        more acid-functional polymerizable monomers,    -   (a3) from 5 to 60% by weight, more preferably from 10 to 50% by        weight, and most preferably from 15 to 40% by weight, of one or        more polymerizable monomers containing cyclic groups,    -   (a4) from 5 to 60% by weight, more preferably from 10 to 50% by        weight, and most preferably from 15 to 40% by weight, of one or        more further polymerizable monomers,    -   (a5) from 0 to 40% by weight, more preferably from 0 to 25% by        weight, and most preferably from 0 to 10% by weight, of one or        more OH- and/or NH-functional polymerizable monomers,        the sum of the components adding up to 100% by weight and        provided that (a3), (a4) and (a5) are different from each other        and are different from (a1) and (a2).

Another preferred copolymer-is produced from a mixture comprising:

-   -   (a1) ethylene glycol monoallyl ether,    -   (a2) one or more acid-functional polymerizable monomers,    -   (a3) one or more polymerizable monomers containing cyclic        groups,    -   (a4) one or more further polymerizable monomers,    -   (a5) if desired, one or more OH- and/or NH-functional        polymerizable monomers, and    -   (a6) at least one or more polyester oligomers, provided that        (a3), (a4), (a5) and (a6) are different from each other and are        different from (a1) and (a2).

Particularly preferred is a copolymer is produced from a mixturecomprising:

-   -   (a1) from 5 to 60% by weight, and more preferably from 20 to 50%        by weight, of ethylene glycol monoallyl ether,    -   (a2) from 0.5 to 10% by weight, and more preferably from 1 to 5%        by weight, of one-or more acid-functional polymerizable        monomers,    -   (a3) from 5 to 60% by weight, and more preferably from 5 to 50%        by weight, of one or more polymerizable monomers containing        cyclic groups,    -   (a4) from 5 to 60% by weight, and more preferably from 5 to 30%        by weight, of one or more further polymerizable monomers,    -   (a5) from 0 to 40% by weight, and more preferably from 15 to 25%        by weight, of one or more OH- and/or NH-functional polymerizable        monomers, and    -   (a6) from 10 to 50% by weight, and more preferably from 10 to        45% by weight, of one or more polyester oligomers,        the sum of the components adding up to 100% by weight and        provided that (a3), (a4), (a5) and (a6) are different from each        other and are different from (a1) and (a2).

Ethylene glycol monoallyl ether is used as monomer (a1). Component (a1)may be prepared, for example, in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,703(col. 2, line 56-col. 3, line 56).or Jungk et al., Organic Preparationsand Procedures International 1983, 15 (3), 152 f.

Component (a2) suitably includes unsaturated free-radicallypolymerizable compounds containing carboxyl/carboxylate groups orsulphonic acid/sulphonate groups. Examples of such acid-functionalmonomers (a2) include, for example, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid,β-carboxyethyl acrylate, crotonic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid(anhydride), itaconic acid, monoalkyl esters of dibasic acids/anhydrides(such as, for example, maleic acid monoalkyl esters), and also theolefinically unsaturated monomers which contain sulphonicacid/sulphonate groups [described in WO-A 00/39181 (p. 8 line 13-p. 9line 19)], among which 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid may bementioned by way of example. Preference is given to usingcarboxy-functional monomers, with particular preference acrylic acidand/or methacrylic acid. Examples of suitable polymerizable monomerscontaining cyclic groups (a3) include cyclohexyl (meth)acrylate,cyclohexyl (meth)acrylates substituted on the ring by alkyl groups,isobornyl (meth)acrylate or norbornyl (meth)acrylate, but also styrene,vinyltoluene or α-methylstyrene. Preference is given to using isobornyl(meth)acrylate and/or styrene.

Examples of suitable monomers (a4) are (meth)acrylic esters having C₁ toC₁₈ hydrocarbon radicals in the alcohol moiety, for example ethylacrylate, n-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate,methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, butyl methacrylate,2-ethylhexyl methacrylate, but also vinyl esters, vinyl monomerscontaining alkylene oxide units, such as condensation products of(meth)acrylic acid with oligoalkylene oxide monoalkyl ethers, forexample, and also monomers containing further functional groups such as,for example, epoxy groups, alkoxysilyl groups, urea groups, urethanegroups, amide groups or nitrile groups. It is also possible to usedifunctional and high polyfunctional (meth)acrylate monomers and/orvinyl monomers such as, for example, hexanediol di(meth)acrylate inamounts of 0-2% by weight based on the sum of the monomers (a1) to (a6).Preference is given to using methyl methacrylate, n-butyl acrylate,n-butyl methacrylate or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate.

Component (a5) suitably includes in principle OH- or NH-functionalmonomers having polymerizable C═C double bonds. Preference is given tohydroxy-functional monomers. Examples of suitable hydroxy-functionalmonomers (a5) are hydroxyethyl met hacrylate, hydroxypropylmethacrylate, hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate,hydroxybutyl acrylate, hydroxybutyl methacrylate or hydroxy monomerscontaining alkylene oxide units, such as adducts of ethylene oxide,propylene oxide or butylene oxide with (meth)acrylic acid, for example.Preference is given to using hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxyethylmethacrylate, hydroxybutyl acrylate or hydroxybutyl methacrylate.

Suitable polyesters (a6) are those compounds having an average molecularweight (M_(n)) of from 500 to 3000 and preferably from 750 to 1500, anacid number of from 0 to 15 mg KOH/g, preferably from 5 to 10 mg KOH/g,and an OH number of from 50 to 300, preferably from 100 to 200 mg KOH/g.The polyesters (a6) further have an unsaturated C═C double bond (MW=24)content of from 0.1 to 1.1% by weight, preferably from 0.2 to 0.4% byweight.

The polyesters which are used as component (a6) are prepared byconventional polycondensation of

-   -   (I) from 0 to 40% by weight, preferably from 0 to 20% by weight        and and most preferably from 0 to 5% by weight of one or more        aliphatic, saturated or unsaturated monocarboxylic acids having        8-30 carbon atoms,    -   (II) from 0.6 to 5% by weight, preferably from 0.6 to 2% by        weight of an a,P-unsaturated monocarboxylic or dicarboxylic acid        having 3 to 8 carbon atoms and/or anhydrides thereof,    -   (Ill) from 20 to 60% by weight, preferably from 25 to 55% by        weight of one or more aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic        dicarboxylic, tricarboxylic or tetracarboxylic acids having from        2 to 40 carbon atoms and/or anhydrides thereof,    -   (IV) from 20 to 60% by weight, preferably from 25 to 55% by        weight of one or more aliphatic alcohols having from 1 to 4 OH        groups per molecule,    -   (V) from 0 to 10% by weight, preferably from 0 to 1% by weight        of one or more aromatic monocarboxylic acid(s),    -   (VI) from 0 to 10% by weight, preferably from 0 to 5% by weight        of further COOH- or OH-reactive compounds such as, for example,        epoxides, isocyanates, amines or oxazolines having from 1 to 4,        preferably from 1.9 to 2.5 functional groups per molecule,        the sum of all the components being 1 00% by weight.

The reaction of components (I) to (VI) may take place where appropriatewith the assistance of customary esterification catalysts, preferably inaccordance with the principle of a melt condensation or azeotropiccondensation at temperatures of from 140° C. to 240° C. with eliminationof water.

As component (I) the polyester component (a6) of the binder dispersionof the invention comprises, where appropriate, one or more aliphaticmonocarboxylic acids having from 8 to 30 carbon atoms. Examples ofsaturated monocarboxylic acids having from 8 to 30 carbon atoms are2-ethylhexanoic acid, octanoic acid (caprylic acid), decanoic acid(capric acid), dodecanoic acid (lauric acid), hexadecanoic acid (cetylicacid) or octadecanoic acid (stearic acid). Also suitable are aliphatic,mono- or polyunsaturated monocarboxylic acids having from 8 to 30 carbonatoms such as, for example, oleic aid, linoleic acid or linolenic acid.It is preferred to use mixtures of monocarboxylic acids as formed in thesaponification of natural oils and fats. Examples of such fatty acidsare soya oil fatty acid, tall oil fatty acid, linseed oil fatty acid,castor oil fatty acid, coconut oil fatty acid, groundnut oil fatty acidor safflower oil fatty acid. Particular preference is given tomonocarboxylic acids obtained by saponifying naturally occurringnon-drying oils and/or fats. Examples of such oils and fats are coconutoil, palm kernel oil and groundnut oil. Additionally suitable examplesof monocarboxylic acids having from 8 to 30 carbon atoms arehydrogenated fatty acids, synthetic fatty acids from, for example, theoxidation of paraffin or the Koch synthesis (J. Falbe, New Syntheseswith Carbon Monoxide, Berlin, Heidelberg, N.Y. (1980), p. 372 ff.).

As component (II) the polyester component (a6) comprises α,β-unsaturatedmonocarboxylic or dicarboxylic acids having from 3 to 8 carbon atoms.Examples of such carboxylic acids are acrylic acid, methacrylic acid,itaconic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid or tetrahydrophthalic acid.Instead of the free carboxylic acids it is also possible to usederivatives of carboxylic acids such as anhydrides or esters, forexample, as starting material for preparing the polyesters. Maleicanhydride is preferred.

Suitable components (Ill) for the polyester component (a6) arealiphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic dicarboxylic, tricarboxylic ortetracarboxylic acids having from 2 to 40 carbon atoms such as, forexample, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid or terephthalic acid and alsopyromellitic acid, trimellitic acid and succinic acid, adipic acid,sebacic acid, azelaic acid. Likewise suitable are dimer fatty acidsprepared from natural or synthetic fatty acids. Instead of the freecarboxylic acids it is also possible to use derivatives of carboxylicacids such as anhydrides or esters, for example, as starting materialfor preparing the polyesters. Preference is given to using dicarboxylicacids such as, for example, phthalic acid, isophthalic acid,terephthalic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid or azelaicacid.

As OH components (IV) having from 1 to 4 OH groups per molecule it ispossible, for example, to use aliphatic monoalcohols such as butanol,pentanol or 2-ethylhexanol. Likewise suitable are ‘fatty alcohols’ asformed during the reduction of fatty acids. Examples of alcoholcomponents having 2 OH groups are ethylene glycol, neopentyl glycol,1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, trimethylpentanediol,1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol,tripropylene glycol or hydrogenated bisphenol. Preferred OH components(IV) used are alcohol components with a functionality of three or more,where appropriate in combination with dihydric alcohols. By way ofexample mention may be made of pentaerythritol, glycerol ortrimethylolpropane. Suitable monocarboxylic-acids (V) include, forexample, benzoic acid or alkylbenzoic acids.

The polyester component (a6) is customarily prepared by polycondensationas described in the literature (R. Dhein, K. Reuter, G. Ruf in‘Houben-Weyl, Methoden der Organischen Chemie Vol. E20/2’, ed.: H.Bartl, J. Falbe, 4th edition, pp. 1429-1435, Stuttgart, N.Y. (1987)). Itis, however, also possible additionally to carry out reaction withfurther compounds (VI), e.g. OH-reactive compounds such aspolyisocyanates or COOH-reactive compounds such as substances containingepoxide, amino or oxazoline groups and so to modify the polyester.Suitable polyisocyanates include preferably aliphatic polyisocyanatessuch as hexamethylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate,methylenebis(4-isocyanatocyclohexane), tetramethylxylylene diisocyanateor modified aliphatic types such as polyisocyanates containingisocyanurate, uretdione or biuret groups. Suitable in principlealongside these are aromatic polyisocyanates such as tolylenediisocyanate or methylenebis(4-isocyanatobenzene). Examples of suitableepoxides are epoxy resins based on bisphenol A diglycidyl ether or elseCardura® E 10 (glycidyl ester of a mixture of highly branchedmonocarboxylic acids having 10 carbon atoms; Versatic® 10, fromResolution Nederland B.V., Hoogvliet, Netherlands). Suitable amines are,for example, hexamethylenediamine, isophoronediamine, diethylenetriamineor ethylenediamine.

The preparation of the aqueous binder dispersions of the invention takesplace by reacting components (a1) to (a5) to form the copolymer orreacting components (a1) to (a6) to form the copolymer and transferringthe copolymer to the aqueous phase, the acid groups being subjected toat least partial neutralization before or during the dispersingoperation.

The copolymers of the invention may in principle be prepared byconventional polymerization processes. Preferably, however, thepreparation takes place by polymerization in organic phase withsubsequent dispersing of the resin into the aqueous phase, the acidgroups being subjected to at least partial neutralization before orduring the operation of dispersing the resin. It is particularlypreferred to prepare the copolymer by a multistage polymerizationprocess as described, for example, in EP-A 0 947 557 (p. 3 line 2-p. 4line 15) or in EP-A 1 024 184 (p. 2 line 53-p. 4 line 9), in which firstof all a comparatively hydrophobic monomer mixture which has a low acidgroup content or is free from acid groups, and then at a later point intime in the polymerization, a more hydrophilic monomer mixturecontaining acid groups, is metered in.

Where component (a6) is used in the preparation of the copolymer, it maybe in solution in the hydrophobic moiety, but also, additionally, mayhave been dissolved proportionally in the hydrophilic moiety. Withpreference, however, component (a6) is introduced at the beginning. Withparticular preference, component (a6) is introduced at the beginningtogether with component (a1), it being possible for component (a6) tocontain cosolvents, although it is preferably free from cosolvent.Subsequently, components (a2) to (a4) and, where appropriate, (a5), aremetered into the initially introduced component (a6), as described inEP-A 0 947 557 (p. 3 line 2-p. 4 line 15) or in EP-A 1 024 184 (p. 2line 53-p. 4 line 9), and polymerization is conducted. The hydrophilicpolymer is prepared in the presence of the hydrophobic polymer.

Instead of a multistage polymerization process it is likewise preferredto conduct the operation continuously (gradient polymerization); thatis, a monomer mixture or monomer/polyester mixture is added withchanging composition, the hydrophilic monomer fractions being highertowards the end of the feed than at the beginning.

In view of the known relatively poor free-radical polymerizability ofvinyl ethers and allyl ethers in comparison to (meth)acrylate monomers(for example, B. Vollmert, Grundriss der Makromolekularen Chemie, I, 87)and the resultant relatively low rate of incorporation of the ethyleneglycol monoallyl ether (a1) in comparison to the other components (a6),(a2) to (a4) and (a5), it is particularly preferred to introduce some orall of component (a1) at the beginning of the polymerization and tometer in the remainder of the monomer mixture as described above. Thisalso has the advantage that the ethylene glycol monoallyl ether (a1) isin this way able to replace some or all of the cosolvent which isotherwise necessary as an initial tank charge, as the reaction mediumfor polymerization. Alternatively (in the case of a correspondinglylower incorporation rate), component (a1) can be metered insimultaneously with the other monomers. The rate of incorporation of(a1) may also be influenced by means of the reaction conditions(pressure, temperature). Any residual amounts of unincorporated (a1) mayeasily be removed, where appropriate, after the end of thepolymerization by distillation, and used again.

The copolymerization is generally conducted at from 90 to 180° C.,preferably at from 100 to 160° C.

The reaction may be conducted in the presence of organic solvents.Suitable such solvents are any desired solvents which are known in painttechnology, preferably those which are commonly employed as cosolventsin aqueous dispersions, such as, for example, alcohols, ethers, alcoholscontaining ether groups, esters, ketones, N-methylpyrrolidone or apolarhydrocarbons or mixtures of these solvents. The solvents are used inamounts such that their quantity in the finished dispersion is 0-12% byweight, preferably 0-6% by weight, with particular preference 0-1% byweight. Where necessary, the solvents used may also be partly removedagain by means of a distillation, if particularly low organic solventcontents are called for.

Suitable initiators for the polymerization reaction include organicperoxides such as, for example, di-tert-butyl peroxide or tert-butylperoxy-2-ethylhexanoate and azo compounds. The amounts of initiator useddepend on the desired molecular weight. For reasons of operationalreliability and greater ease of handling, peroxide initiators may alsobe used in the form of a solution in suitable organic solvents of theabovementioned type.

The number-average molecular weight M_(n) of the copolymers may becontrolled through a targeted choice of the operational parameters, e.g.of the molar monomer-initiator ratio, of the reaction time or of thetemperature, and is generally situated between 500 and 30 000,preferably between 500 and 20 000, with particular preference between500 and 15 000. The OH content of the copolymers is from 2 to 10% byweight, preferably from 2.5 to 8.5% by weight, and most preferably from3 to 7% by weight, and is determined by relative amount of thehydroxy-functional monomers used.

The amount of acid groups formed by the sum of carboxyl/carboxylate andsulphonic-acid/sulphonate groups in the copolymer is from 5 to 100meq/100 g, preferably from 10 to 80 meq/100 g and most preferably from20 to 60 meq/100 g, and is determined by the relative amount of theacid-functional monomers employed. Where appropriate, forhydrophilicization, the copolymer may contain, additionally to the acidgroups, and proportionally, monomer units containing alkylene oxide, inincorporated form, or else external emulsifiers. Preferably, however,the copolymers are hydrophilicized only by means of acid groups.

For the neutralization of the acid groups incorporated bycopolymerization in the copolymer, it is possible to use organic aminesor water-soluble inorganic bases (e.g. soluble metal hydroxides).Examples of suitable amines are N-methylmorpholine, triethylamine,diisopropylethylamine, dimethylethanolamine, dimethylisopropanolamine,methyldiethanolamine, diethylethanolamine, butanolamine, morpholine,2-aminomethyl-2-methylpropanol or isophoronediamine. Ammonia can also beused as well. The neutralizing agent is added in amounts such that thedegree of neutralization (i.e. the molar ratio of neutralizing agent toacid) is from 40 to 150%, preferably from 60 to 120%. The pH of theaqueous binder dispersion. of the invention is from 6.0 to 11.0,preferably from 6.5 to 9.0.

The aqueous crosslinkable binder dispersions of the invention have asolids content of from 25 to 60%, preferably from 30 to 50%, and anorganic solvent content of from 0 to 12%, preferably from 0 to 6%. Asdescribed earlier on above, it is possible by means of the presentinvention to prepare aqueous dispersions which are virtuallycosolvent-free.

Besides the copolymer, the binder dispersions of the invention may whereappropriate comprise other binders or dispersions as well, based forexample on polyesters, polyurethanes, polyethers, polyepoxides orpolyacrylates and, where appropriate, pigments and other additives andauxiliaries which are known in the paints industry.

The binder dispersions of the invention can be processed to aqueouscoating compositions. Consequently, aqueous coating compositionscomprising the binder dispersions of the invention and also at least onecrosslinker, preferably a polyisocyanate crosslinker, with particularpreference a polyisocyanate crosslinker containing free NCO groups, arelikewise provided by the present invention.

Through combination with crosslinkers it is possible in this case,depending on the reactivity or, where appropriate, the blocking of thecrosslinkers, to prepare both one-component coating materials andtwo-component coating materials. For the purposes of the presentinvention, one-component coating materials are coating compositions inwhich binder component and crosslinker component can be stored togetherwithout any crosslinking reaction occurring to a marked extent or anextent which is detrimental to the subsequent application. Thecrosslinking reaction takes place only on application, followingactivation of the crosslinker. This activation can be produced, forexample, by raising the temperature. Two-component coating materialsare, for the purposes of the present invention, coating compositions inwhich binder component and crosslinker component have to be stored inseparate vessels owing to their high reactivity. The two components arenot mixed until shortly before application when they react generallywithout additional activation. In order to accelerate the crosslinkingreaction, however, it is also possible to use catalysts or to employhigher temperatures.

Examples of suitable crosslinkers are polyisocyanate crosslinkers,amide- and amine-formaldehyde resins, phenolic resins, aldehyde resinsand ketone resins, such as phenol-formaldehyde resins, for example,resoles, furan resins, urea resins, carbamic ester resins, triazineresins, melamine resins, benzoguanamine resins, cyanamide resins, andaniline resins, as described in “Lackkunstharze”, H. Wagner, H. F. Sarx,Carl Hanser Verlag Munich, 1971.

As crosslinkers it is preferred to use polyisocyanates containing freeand/or blocked NCO groups, since the aqueous one-component andtwo-component polyurethane coating materials obtained exhibit aparticularly high level of coatings properties. Suitable suchcrosslinker resins include blocked polyisocyanates based, for example,on isophorone diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate,1,4-diiso-cyanatocyclohexane, bis(4-iso-cyanatocyclohexane)methane or1,3-diiso-cyanatobenzene, or based on paint polyisocyanates such asbiuret-group-containing or isocyanurate-group-containing polyisocyanatesof 1,6-diisocyanatohexane, isophorone diisocyanate orbis(4-isocyanatocyclohexane)methane or urethane-group-containing paintpolyisocyanates based on 2,4- and/or 2,6-diisocyanatotoluene orisophorone diisocyanate, on the one hand, and low molecular masspolyhydroxyl compounds such as trimethylolpropane, the isomericpropanediols or butanediols, or any desired mixtures of suchpolyhydroxyl compounds, on the other.

Examples of suitable blocking agents for these polyisocyanates aremonohydric alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, butanol, hexanol,cyclohexanol, benzyl alcohol, oximes such as acetoxime, methyl ethylketoxime, cyclohexanone oxime, lactams such as ε-caprolactam, phenols,amines, such as diisopropylamine or dibutylamine, dimethylpyrazole ortriazole, and also dimethyl malonate, diethyl malonate or dibutylmalonate.

Preference is given to using hydrophobic or hydrophilicizedpolyisocyanates of low viscosity which contain free isocyanate groupsand are based on aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic and/or aromaticisocyanates, preferably aliphatic or cycloaliphatic isocyanates, sincein that way it is possible to obtain a coating film having aparticularly high level of resistance. These polyisocyanates generallyhave a viscosity of from 10 to 3500 mPas at 23° C. Where necessary, thepolyisocyanates may be employed in the form of a blend with smallamounts of inert solvents in order to lower the viscosity to a levelwithin the stated range. Triisocyanatononane as well may be used, aloneor in mixtures, as a crosslinker component.

The copolymer described here is generally sufficiently hydrophilic, sothat the dispersibility of the crosslinker resins, provided that theyare not substances which are water-soluble or water-dispersible in anycase, is ensured.

Water-soluble or dispersible blocked polyisocyanates are obtainable, forexample, by modification with carboxylate and/or polyethylene oxidegroups and/or polyethylene oxide/polypropylene oxide groups.Hydrophilicization of the polyisocyanates is possible, for example, byreaction with substoichiometric amounts of monohydric hydrophilicpolyether alcohols. The preparation of polyisocyanates hydrophilicizedin this way is described, for example, in EP-A 0 540 985, p. 3, line55-p. 4 line 5. Also highly suitable are the polyisocyanates describedin EP-A-959087, p. 3 lines 39-51, which contain allophanate groups andare prepared by reacting low-monomer-content polyisocyanates withpolyethylene oxide polyether alcohols under allophanatizationconditions. Also suitable are the water-dispersible,triisocyanatononane-based polyisocyanate mixtures that are described inDE-A 100 078 21, p. 2 line 66-p. 3 line 5. Likewise possible ishydrophilicization through the addition of commercially customaryemulsifiers.

Particular preference in the context of the invention is given to usingnon-hydrophilicized-polyisocyanate crosslinkers of low viscosity, sincein particular in the context of the anti-graffiti resistance it ispossible in this way to attain a very high level.

Also suitable in principle, of course, is the use of mixtures ofdifferent crosslinker resins.

Before, during or after the preparation of the aqueous binder dispersionof the invention by blending the individual components (a1) to (a5) or(a1) to (a6), and also in the case where the coating compositions areprepared by adding at least one crosslinker, it is possible to add thecustomary auxiliaries and adjuvants of paint technology, such asdefoamers, thickeners, pigments, dispersing auxiliaries, catalysts,anti-skinning agents, anti-settling agents or emulsifiers, for example.

The aqueous coating compositions thus obtained, comprising the binderdispersions of the invention, are suitable for all applications whereaqueous paint and coating systems are used with stringent requirementsimposed on the resistance of the films, examples being the coating ofsurfaces of mineral building materials, the coating and sealing of woodand wood materials, the coating of metallic surfaces (metal coating),the coating and varnishing of coverings containing asphalt or bitumen,the coating and sealing of various plastics surfaces (plastics coating),and also high-gloss coating materials.

Likewise provided by the present specification are substrates coatedwith aqueous coating compositions comprising the binder dispersions ofthe invention.

The aqueous coating compositions comprising the binder dispersions ofthe invention are used for preparing primers, surfacers, pigmented ortransparent topcoat materials, clearcoat materials and high-glosscoating materials, and also one-coat coating materials, which may beemployed in individual application and production-line application, inthe field, for example, of industrial coating, automotive OEM finishingand automotive refinish.

Preferred uses of the aqueous coating compositions comprising the binderdispersions of the invention, preferably in combination withpolyisocyanates or with particular preference in combination withnon-hydrophilicized polyisocyanates of low viscosity, is the coating orpainting of metallic surfaces or plastics at from room temperature to140° C. These coatings combine very good film optical qualities with ahigh level in solvent resistance and chemical resistance, especiallyexcellent anti-graffiti resistance.

The coating can be produced by any of a wide variety of sprayingtechniques such as, for example, air pressure spraying, airless sprayingor electrostatic spraying techniques, using one-component or, whereappropriate, two-component spraying units. The paints and coatingmaterials comprising the binder dispersions of the invention may also,however, be applied by other methods, such as by brushing, rolling orknifecoating, for example.

The invention is further illustrated but is not intended to be limitedby the following examples in which all parts and percentages are byweight unless otherwise specified.

EXAMPLES

All figures in % are by weight. Viscosity measurements were carried outin a cone and plate viscometer in accordance with DIN 53019 at a shearrate of 40 s⁻¹.

Example 1 Preparation of an Inventive Hydroxyl-Containing Dispersion

A 6 I reaction vessel with stirring, cooling and heating apparatus ischarged with a mixture (I) of 990 g of ethylene glycol monoallyl ether,83.2 g of methyl methacrylate, 83.3 g of isobornyl methacrylate, 3.5 gof acrylic acid and 10.8 g of di-tert-butyl peroxide and this initialcharge is heated to 143° C.

Then a mixture (II) of 407.2 g of methyl methacrylate and 407.3 g ofisobornyl methacrylate and, in parallel, 39.2 g of di-tert-butylperoxide is metered in at the same temperature and with stirring overthe course of 4.5 h. After a further 30 min at 143° C., a mixture (IV)of 217.5 g of methyl methacrylate, 190 g of butyl acrylate and 60 g ofacrylic acid and, again in parallel, a solution of 8 g of di-tert-butylperoxide in 16 g of Solvent Naphtha® 100 are metered in at a uniformrate over the course of 1.5 h, followed by stirring at reactiontemperature for 60 min more.

Subsequently, unreacted ethylene glycol monoallyl ether is distilled offin vacuo (max. 140° C./20 mbar). This gives 89.8 g of distillate, i.e.9% of the amount of ethylene glycol monoallyl ether used. The GCanalysis of the resin obtained shows a residual free ethylene glycolmonoallyl ether content of less than 0.5% by weight.

1204 g of this resin are subsequently neutralized with 35.3 g ofdimethylethanolamine at 95° C. and, by adding 2300 g of distilled water,dispersion is carried out to give a stable aqueous dispersion having asolids content of 33.6% with a viscosity of 4350 mPas and a pH of 7.7.The dispersion is virtually cosolvent-free. The OH content of the resin(100%) is 6.1% (OH number 201 mg KOH/g), the acid number (100%) is 21.5mg KOH/g.

Example 2 Preparation of an Inventive Hydroxyl-Containing Dispersion

Example 1 is repeated with the difference that 990.5 g of the resinobtained after distillation are mixed with 87.4 g of Solvent Naphtha®100 and 87.4 g of butyl glycol at 95° C. Subsequently neutralization iscarried out with 29.0 g of dimethylethanolamine at 95° C. and dispersionis carried out by adding 1850 g of distilled water to give a stableaqueous dispersion having a solids content of 32.3% with a viscosity of1560 mPas and a pH of 7.9. The dispersion has a cosolvent content of5.7%. The OH content of the resin (100%) is 6.1% (OH number 201 mgKOH/g), the acid number (100%) 22 mg KOH/g.

Example 3 Preparation of an Inventive Hydroxyl-Containing Dispersion

A 6 I reaction vessel with stirring, cooling and heating apparatus ischarged with a mixture (I) of 750 g of ethylene glycol monoallyl ether,83.2 g of methyl methacrylate, 83.3 g of isobornyl methacrylate, 10.8 9of di-tert-butyl peroxide and 78 g of butyl glycol and this initialcharge is heated to 143° C.

Then a mixture (II) of 407.2 g of methyl methacrylate, 407.3 g ofisobornyl methacrylate, 125 g of butyl acrylate and 115 9 of styreneand, in parallel, a solution of 39.2 g of di-tert-butyl peroxide in 39 gof butyl glycol is metered in at the same temperature and with stirringover the course of 4.5 h. After a further 30 min at 143° C., a mixture(IV) of 217.5 g of methyl methacrylate, 190 g of butyl acrylate and 60 gof acrylic acid and, again in parallel, a solution of 8 g ofdi-tert-butyl peroxide in 8 g of butyl glycol are metered in at auniform rate over the course of 1.5 h, followed by stirring at reactiontemperature for 60 min more.

Subsequently, unreacted ethylene glycol monoallyl ether is distilled offin vacuo (max. 140° C./20 mbar), in the course of which the greatestpart of the butyl glycol is also removed. This gives 75 g of distillate,which contains about 2 g, i.e. about 0.3% of the amount of ethyleneglycol monoallyl ether used (remainder: butyl glycol). The GC analysisof the resin obtained shows a residual free ethylene glycol monoallylether content of 0.8% by weight and also a residual butyl glycol contentof 1% by weight. This resin melt is subsequently dissolved in 206 g ofSolvent Naphtha 100.

1243 g, of this resin melt are heated to 95° C. and neutralized with22.7 g of dimethylethanolamine; subsequently 1250 g of distilled waterare added. This gives a stable aqueous dispersion having a solidscontent of 45.5% and an average particle size of 126 nm with a viscosityof 2500 mPas and a pH of 7.6. The dispersion has a cosolvent content of4%. The OH content of the resin (100%) is 4.1% (OH number 134 mg KOH/g),the acid number (100%) is 18 mg KOH/g.

Example 4 Preparation of an Inventive Hydroxyl-Containing Dispersion

A 6 I reaction vessel with stirring, cooling and heating apparatus ischarged with a mixture (I) of 990 g of ethylene glycol monoallyl ether,83.2 g of methyl methacrylate, 83.3 g of isobornyl methacrylate, 3.5 gof acrylic acid and 10.8 g of di-tert-butyl peroxide and this initialcharge is heated to 143° C.

Then a mixture (II) of 407.2 g of methyl methacrylate and 407.3 g ofisobornyl methacrylate and, in parallel, 39.2 g of di-tert-butylperoxide is metered in at the same temperature and with stirring overthe course of 4.5 h. After a further 30 min at 143° C., a mixture (IV)of 217.5 g of methyl methacrylate, 205 g of butyl acrylate and 45 g ofacrylic acid and, again in parallel, a solution of 8 g of di-tert-butylperoxide in 16 g of Solvent Naphtha® 100 are metered in at a uniformrate over the course of 1.5 h, followed by stirring at reactiontemperature for 60 min more.

Subsequently, unreacted ethylene glycol monoallyl ether is distilled offin vacuo (max. 140° C./20 mbar). This gives 100.5 g of distillate, i.e.10% of the amount of ethylene glycol monoallyl ether used. The GCanalysis of the resin obtained shows a residual free ethylene glycolmonoallyl ether content of 0.7% by weight.

This resin melt is subsequently dissolved in 195.8 g of Solvent Naphtha100, neutralization is carried out with 54.3 g of dimethylethanolamineat 95° C. and subsequently 4550 g of distilled water are added. Thisgives a stable aqueous dispersion having a solids content of 33.2% witha viscosity of 2400 mPas and a pH of 8.0. The dispersion has a cosolventcontent of 2.7%. The OH content of the resin (100%) is 5.9% (OH number195 mg KOH/g), the acid number (100%) is 15 mg KOH/g.

Example 5 Preparation of an Inventive Hydroxyl-Containing Dispersion

a) Preparation of the Polyester Resin:

In a 15 I reaction vessel with stirring, cooling and heating apparatusand also water separator, 1665 g of trimethylolpropane and 5161 g ofneopentyl glycol are melted under a nitrogen atmosphere at 120° C.Subsequently, at 120° C., 189 g of maleic anhydride, 5581 g of phthalicanhydride and 2065 g of isophthalic acid are weighed in. Nitrogen ispassed through the reaction mixture. The batch is heated to 210° C. in 6h.

At this temperature a strong stream of nitrogen (about 30 I/h) is passedthrough the batch and condensation is carried out until the acid numberhas fallen to below 8 mg KOH/g. The OH number is 133 mg KOH/g, the acidnumber 7.5 mg KOH/g.

b) Preparation of the Dispersion:

A 6 I reaction vessel with stirring, cooling and heating apparatus ischarged with a mixture (I) of 450 g of ethylene glycol monoallyl ether,700 g of the polyester resin a), 13.3 g of methyl methacrylate, 8.7 g ofstyrene, 1.3 g of n-butyl acrylate and 29.3 g of hydroxypropyl acrylateat 140° C. Added dropwise to the mixture (I) over the course of 4 h isan initiator solution comprising 39.0 g of di-tert-butyl peroxidedissolved in 78.0 g of butyl glycol, the temperature being held at 140°C. 5 minutes after the beginning of the metered addition of initiator, amixture (II) of 120.0 g of methyl methacrylate, 78.0 g of styrene, 12.0g of n-butyl acrylate and 264.0 g of hydroxypropyl acrylate is meteredin in parallel over the course of 2 h at a reaction temperature of 140°C. Following the metered addition of mixture (II), a mixture (Ill) of66.7 g of methyl methacrylate, 43.3 g of styrene, 6.7 g of n-butylacrylate, 146.7 g of hydroxypropyl acrylate and 60 g of acrylic acid ismetered in over the course of 1 h at a reaction temperature of 140° C.After all of the initiator solution has been metered in, stirring iscontinued at 140° C. for one hour more and then unreacted ethyleneglycol monoallyl ether is distilled off in vacuo (max. 145° C./20 mbar).This gives 123 g of distillate, consisting of about 10% of the amount ofethylene glycol monoallyl ether used and butyl glycol. GC analysis ofthe resin obtained shows a residual free ethylene glycol monoallyl ethercontent of <0.5% by weight.

The resin melt is neutralized with 61.8 g of dimethylethanolamine at 95°C. and subsequently 2070 g of distilled water are added. This gives astable aqueous dispersion having a solids content of 43.2% with aviscosity of 2400 mPas and a pH of 7.6. The dispersion iscosolvent-free. The OH content of the resin (100%) is 7.7% (OH number253 mg KOH/g), the acid number (100%) 26 mg KOH/g.

Example 6 Preparation of a Non-Inventive Hydroxyl-Containing Dispersion(Comparative)

A 6 I reaction vessel with stirring, cooling and heating apparatus ischarged with a mixture (I) of 990 g of ethylene glycol monoallyl ether,83.2 g of methyl methacrylate, 83.3 g of butyl acrylate, 3.5 g ofacrylic acid and 10.8 g of di-tert-butyl peroxide and this initialcharge is heated to 143° C.

Then a mixture (II) of 407.2 g of methyl methacrylate and 407.3 g ofbutyl acrylate and, in parallel, 39.2 g of di-tert-butyl peroxide ismetered in at the same temperature and with stirring over the course of4.5 h. After a further 30 min at 143° C, a mixture (IV) of 217.5 g ofmethyl methacrylate, 190 g of butyl acrylate and 60 g of acrylic acidand, again in parallel, a solution of 8 g of di-tert-butyl peroxide in16 g of Solvent Naphtha 100 are metered in at a uniform rate over thecourse of 1.5 h, followed by stirring at reaction temperature for 60 minmore.

Subsequently, unreacted ethylene glycol monoallyl ether is distilled offin vacuo (max. 140° C./20 mbar). This gives 124 g of distillate, i.e.about 12% of the amount of ethylene glycol monoallyl ether used. The GCanalysis of the resin obtained shows a residual free ethylene glycolmonoallyl ether content of less than 0.5% by weight.

Subsequently 1930 g of this resin melt are dissolved in a mixture of170.3 g of Solvent Naphtha® 100 and 170.3 g of butyl glycol,neutralization is carried out with 57.2 g of dimethylethanolamine at 95°C. and then 2114 g of distilled water are added. This gives a stableaqueous dispersion having a solids content of 45.0% with a viscosity of5100 mPas and a pH of 7.9. The dispersion has a cosolvent content of7.9%. The OH content of the resin (100%) is 6.1%, the acid numrber(100%) 21 mg KOH/g.

Example 7 Preparation of a Non-Inventive Hydroxyl-Containing Dispersion(Comparative)

A 6 I reaction vessel with stirring, cooling and heating apparatus ischarged with 186 g of butyl glycol and 186 g of Solvent Naphta and thisinitial charge is heated to 143° C. Then a mixture (I) of 875 g ofmethyl methacrylate, 445 g of hydroxyethyl methacrylate and 625 g ofbutyl acrylate is metered in over 3 hours followed directly thereafterby a mixture (II) of 128 g of methyl methacrylate, 180 g of hydroxyethylmethacrylate, 100 g of butyl acrylate and 60 g of acrylic acid meteredin over 1½ hours. In parallel thereto, 88 g of di-tert-butyl peroxide in70 g of a 1:1 mixture of butyl glycol and Solvent Naphta® are metered inover 5 hours. After a further 2 hours of stirring at 145° C., the batchis cooled to 100° C., 78 g of dimethylethanolamine are added, and themixture is homogenized and dispersed in 2600 g of water. This gives astable aqueous dispersion having a solids content of 45.6% with aviscosity of 1500 mPas and a pH of 8.1. The dispersion has a cosolventcontent of 8%. The OH content of the resin (100%) is 3.3%, the acidnumber (100%) 21 mg KOH/g.

Application Example Aqueous 2K PU Clearcoats

In accordance with the weighed amounts for introduction in Table 1,binder dispersion I and the additives II-IV are dispersed using astirrer (about 10 minutes at about 2000 rpm) to give an aqueous stockvarnish component, from which air is allowed to escape for one day.Following addition of distilled water to adjust to the target viscosity(approximately 40 s DIN 6 cup), air is again allowed to escape for oneday. This stock varnish is subsequently admixed with, as crosslinkercomponent V, an asymmetric hexamethylene diisocyanate trimer having anNCO content of 23.7% and a viscosity (in 100% form) of approximately 650mPas, prepared in accordance with Ex. (1A) of WO-A/01/14092, dissolvedin 3-methoxy-n-butyl acetate (solids content: 80%), which isincorporated using a stirrer at 2000 rpm for 2 min. The NCO:OH ratio is1.5:1. The product is subsequently diluted with distilled water to aspray viscosity of approximately 25 s (DIN 4 cup).

Following application (spray gun HVLP NR 2000; 3.0-3.5 bar) tocoil-coated metal sheets which have been coated with a commercial,water-thinnable or solventborne basecoat (e.g. Permahyd or Permacron;Spies Hecker), the coatings are flashed off at RT for 30 min, dried inan oven at 60° C. for 30 min and then dried at room temperature for 7-10days. This gives glossy coating films for which the results of coatingstesting are summarized in Tab. 1.

It can be seen that the aqueous 2K PU coatings based on the inventivedispersions from Ex. 1 and 2 combine very good film optical qualities,high hardness, very good solvent resistance and chemical resistance withexcellent graffiti resistance. Coatings based on the non-inventivedispersions from Ex. 5 and 6 likewise exhibit a good level ofproperties, albeit with weaknesses in gloss and hardness (Disp. 5), andalso solvent resistance and chemical resistance (Disp. 6). While thecoatings based on the dispersions from Ex. 1 and 2 pass the Dt.Bundesbahn Graffiti Test (the Graffiti Test of the German RailwayService, in accordance with TL 918 300, Section 4.11) (10 cycles), thecorresponding coatings based on Ex. 5 and especially 6 do not meet therequirements of this test. TABLE 1 Varnish batch for aqueous 2K PUclearcoats Dispersion from Ex. 1 2 6 7 Amount introduced in g: Varnishcomposition I Binder dispersion 560.0 583.0 418.0 542.0 II Surfynol ®104BC¹ 11.2 11.2 11.2 11.2 III Borchigel ® PW 25² 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 IVBaysilone ® VP Al 3468³, 9.3 9.3 9.3 9.3 10% in butyl glycol VPolyisocyanate (see text), 231.0 231.0 231.0 162.0 80% in 3-methoxybutylacetate Results of coating testing Gloss (20°) 85 86 82 84 Levelling* 11 1 1 Drying T1/T3 [h] 3/>7 3/>7 3/>7 3/>7 Pendulum hardness 7 d RT [s]187 196 123 179 Solvent resistance* Water (60 min) 0 0 1 2 Super-gradepetrol (5 min) 1 1 2 3 Methoxypropyl acetate (5 min) 2 1 2 4 Xylene (5min) 1 1 1 4 Chemical resistance* 2% H₂SO₄ (60 min) 1 1 1 2 2% NaOH (60min) 1 1 1 2 Graffiti resistance* to TL 918 300 Section 4.11 (1stcycle)** Alkyd paint spray RAL 1021 1/0 1/0 3/1 3/1 dissolvability/lossof gloss Acrylic paint spray RAL 6010 1/0 1/0 3/1 3/1dissolvability/loss of gloss Graffiti resistance* to TL 918 300 Section4.11 (10th cycle)** Alkyd paint spray RAL 1021 1/0 1/0 3/1 filmdissolvability/loss of gloss destroyed Acrylic paint spray RAL 6010 1/01/0 3/1 film dissolvability/loss of gloss destroyed*Evaluation 0-5; 0 = best score, 5 = worst score**Deutsche Bundesbahn Test for Graffiti resistance¹Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.;²Borchers GmbH, DE;³Borchers GmbH, DE

Although the invention has been described in detail in the foregoing forthe purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail issolely for that purpose and that variations can be made therein by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention except as it may be limited by the claims.

1-14. (canceled)
 15. An aqueous coating composition comprising at leastone crosslinker and a crosslinkable binder dispersion which comprises ahydroxy- and acid-functional copolymer which is produced from a monomermixture consisting of (a1) ethylene glycol monoallyl ether, (a2) one ormore acid-functional polymerizable monomers, (a3) one or morepolymerizable monomers containing cyclic groups and (a4) one or morefurther polymerizable monomers selected from the group consisting of(meth)acrylic esters having C₁ to C₁₈ hydrocarbon radicals in thealcohol moiety, vinyl esters, vinyl monomers containing alkylene oxideunits, monomers containing epoxy groups, monomers containing alkoxysilylgroups, monomers containing urea groups, monomers containing urethanegroups, monomers containing amide groups, monomers containing nitrilegroups, difunctional and higher functional (meth)acrylate monomers anddifunctional and higher functional vinyl monomers, (a5) optionally, oneor more OH- and/or NH-functional polymerizable monomers, and (a6)optionally, one or more polyester oligomers, provided that (a3), (a4),(a5) and (a6) are different from each other and are different from (a1)and (a2).
 16. The aqueous coating composition of claim 15, wherein saidcopolymer is produced from a monomer mixture consisting of (a1) from 5to 60% by weight of ethylene glycol monoallyl ether, (a2) from 0.5 to10% by weight of one or more acid-functional polymerizable monomers,(a3) from 5 to 60% by weight of one or more polymerizable monomerscontaining cyclic groups, (a4) from 5 to 60% by weight one or morefurther polymerizable monomers, (a5) from 0 to 40% by weight of one ormore OH- and/or NH-functional polymerizable monomers, and (a6)optionally from 10 to 50% by weight of one or more polyester oligomers,the sum of the components of the mixture adding up to 100% by weight andprovided that (a3), (a4), (a5) and (a6) are different from each otherand are different from (a1) and (a2).
 17. The aqueous coatingcomposition of claim 15, wherein component (a6) is present.
 18. Theaqueous coating composition claim 16, wherein component (a6) is present.19. The aqueous coating composition of claim 18, wherein component (a6)comprises a polyester oligomer having an average molecular weight(M_(n)) Of from 500 to 3000, an acid number of from 0 to 15 mg KOH/g andan OH number of from 50 to 300 and an unsaturated C═C double bondcontent of from 0.1 to 1.1% by weight.
 20. The aqueous coatingcomposition of claim 15, wherein the binder dispersion has an OH contentof from 2 to 10% by weight, an average molecular weight (M_(n)) of from500 to 20,000 and an acid group content of 5 to 100 meq/100 g, at leastsome of which acid groups are in neutralized form.
 21. The aqueouscoating composition of claim 15, wherein said crosslinker comprises alow-viscosity, hydrophobic or hydrophilic polyisocyanate containing freeisocyanate groups and prepared from an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic,araliphatic and/or aromatic isocyanate.
 22. The aqueous coatingcomposition of claim 16, wherein said crosslinker comprises alow-viscosity, hydrophobic or hydrophilic polyisocyanate containing freeisocyanate groups and prepared from an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic,araliphatic and/or aromatic isocyanate.
 23. The aqueous coatingcomposition of claim 17, wherein said crosslinker comprises alow-viscosity, hydrophobic or hydrophilic polyisocyanate containing freeisocyanate groups and prepared from an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic,araliphatic and/or aromatic isocyanate.
 24. The aqueous coatingcomposition of claim 18, wherein said crosslinker comprises alow-viscosity, hydrophobic or hydrophilic polyisocyanate containing freeisocyanate groups and prepared from an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic,araliphatic and/or aromatic isocyanate.
 25. The aqueous coatingcomposition of claim 19, wherein said crosslinker comprises alow-viscosity, hydrophobic or hydrophilic polyisocyanate containing freeisocyanate groups and prepared from an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic,araliphatic and/or aromatic isocyanate.
 26. The aqueous coatingcomposition of claim 20, wherein said crosslinker comprises alow-viscosity, hydrophobic or hydrophilic polyisocyanate containing freeisocyanate groups and prepared from an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic,araliphatic and/or aromatic isocyanate.
 27. The aqueous coatingcomposition of claim 21, wherein crosslinker comprises a low-viscosity,hydrophobic polyisocyanate.
 28. The aqueous coating composition of claim22, wherein crosslinker comprises a low-viscosity, hydrophobicpolyisocyanate.
 29. The aqueous coating composition of claim 23, whereincrosslinker comprises a low-viscosity, hydrophobic polyisocyanate. 30.The aqueous coating composition of claim 24, wherein crosslinkercomprises a low-viscosity, hydrophobic polyisocyanate.
 31. The aqueouscoating composition of claim 25, wherein crosslinker comprises alow-viscosity, hydrophobic polyisocyanate.
 32. The aqueous coatingcomposition of claim 26, wherein crosslinker comprises a low-viscosity,hydrophobic polyisocyanate.
 33. A process of producing a coatedsubstrate comprising applying the aqueous coating composition of claim15 to a substrate and drying the resulting coating.
 34. The process ofclaim 33, wherein the substrate comprises a member selected from thegroup consisting of mineral surfaces, wood, metal, asphalt-containingsurfaces, bitumen-containing surfaces and plastics.